Improvement in aerial machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. WARD.

AERIAL MACHINE.

No 195,860, Patented Oct. 2, 1877 Witnesses Inven 0r W-Q Z Sheets-Sheet2.

J. B. WARD. AERIAL MACHINE.

No. 195,860. Patented 0ct.2,1877

v. Witnesses fiimfi i l mkn. l

JOHN B. WARD, CF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROV'E-MEENT laN AERIAL MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1195,860 dated October2, 1877; application filed May 23, 1877.

To all "whomtitfq'iwqy. concern Be it known:that I,.JOHN.B; WARD, of thecity and. coimty: of San Francisco, and: State of California, have.invented an Aerial'sMachine; andI- do hereby. declare the following tobe a full,-.clear, and; exact description thereof, reference beingha'dito-the accompanying draw- 111 gs.

My invention relates to certain: improvements in aerial-machines; andthey are-more especially applicable to a machinefor which Letters Patentwere granted to me December 19, 18.76, No.- 185,465.

My invention consists in certain details. of construction, whichwill bemore fullydescribed by referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in whichFigure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine. Fig. 2 is aview of the elevating propeller or screw and gyroscopic wheel. Fig. 3shows the construction of the gyroscopic fanblower. Fig. 4 representsthe inclined plane and its adjusting devices.

A is the'body of my aerial vessel, having at its rear the propellingdevice, consisting, in

the present case, of a fan-blower, B. The wblower-wheel is, in thisinvention, made with a gyroscopic wheel, the weight of which at a highvelocity will assist to preserve the equilibrium of the machine. Thiswheel or gyro- .scope is providedwith the vanes or fans D,

which are secured to or pass through it, so as to cxtendout upon eachside. These fans .or

vanes are set at an angle of fifteen degrees, so t as to give the mostfavorable angle for the exit of theair. The ingress-tubes E are similarin their arrangement to those described in my former patent; but in'thepresent case each one supplies one side or half of the blower.

My elevating device consists, also, in my present machine, as in theformer one, of a propeller or screw wheel, which is centrally situatedand operates within a case, F. This case is closed at the top, and tubesG lead fromthe supplytubes E into this case just above the propeller-Wheel. This wheelis constructed in a peculiar manner, and consists of aseries of vanes, H H, placed one above the other, and around the samecentral shaft. *Thesecond series of vanes take the air from the first asit passes through them, and the number may be indefinitely increased, soas to greatly increase the power,

while by mounting them as shown very little additional space isoccupied. These vanes may be made adjustable, as is desired. A rim, I,surrounds the propeller-vanes, as shown. Above the propeller-wheel, andsituated just above the level of the supply-tubes G, is placed thegyroscopic wheel J, which is mounted upon the same shaft, and is madeheavy, s-o-that when running at a high rate of speed it will act, inconjunction with the gyroscopic wheel C, to preserve the equilibrium ofthe vessel and prevent its being upset, and this will be moreeffectually done bythisarrangement than when the gyroscopic andpropeller wheels are combined in one.

My elevating, guiding, or directing plane for the apparatus consists ofa frame or roof, K, arched at the top, and made considerably deeper atthe rear than at the front. Large airtubes L L extend through the upperpart of this frame, and allow air to flow through while the machine isin motion, and thus reduce the surface which is presented to retard theln tion, while at the same time a maximum of supporting-siuface ispresented, because the upper half of each tube acts in this capacity.

The plane M is hinged to the front of the frame K, and its rear end ismade movable vertically, so that it may be adjusted to different angles.This plane is cushioned upon the air which is confined in theoscillating cylor disks may be so connected with this plane that theywill close the tubes, and thus offer a further resistance to the air. Asecond cord, P, is employed to bring the plane down to its positionagain when desired. By means of this elastic air-cushion the shock ofalighting will be greatly reduced, as the slightest touch will cause theair to act upon the plane and force it downward, so as to relieve theshock.

The steering device consists of a double rudder, Q, moved by ahorizontal yoke suitably connected,-so as to be turned by asteeringwheel, R, within reach of the operator. The rudders operate uponeach side of the discharge from the propelling-blast, as in my formerpatent. The front steering-wheel S, which is in use while the machine ismoving upon the ground, is mounted within a horizontal rim.

having a gear upon its outer edge, and a pinion upon a vertical shaftwhich carries the hand-wheel serves to turn it in any desired direction.

The driving mechanism for my machine is represented by gearing, pulleys,and springs; but in an actual machine I shall employ an engine made oflight material, as aluminum, either employing air or air and steam incombination as a motor, in a manner which will be the subject of afuture patent. The bearing-wheels V, I have, in the present case, placedwithin the hull of the vessel, so that only the lower half will beexposed to the action of the air through which the machine is passing,and whatever friction may be developed will be in favor of the progressof the machine, by reason of the direction of the rotation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The gyroscopic wheel 0, turning upon a horizontal axis, incombination with the double set of vanes D, forming a fan-blower, saidvanes being set at an angle, as shown, and operating in combination withthe supply-openin gs E and discharge, substantially as herein described.

2. The compound screw, consisting of a series of radial vanes, H H,surrounding the same center, and placed in line with and above eachother, so as to form continuation of the first, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

3. The guiding or directing plane M, hinged to the fiont of the frame orrod K, and provided with the air-cylinder T to contain air, upon whichit is cushioned, substantially as herein described.

4. The directing-plane M, with its air or cushion cylinder T, incombination with the hollow piston-rod and the escape-valve N,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

5. The frame or case K, made deeper at the rear than at the front, sothat the plane M may stand at an incline, or be forced upward into theframe and expose the rear rim, substantially as described.

6. The frame or case K, in combination with the air tubes or passage LL, passing longitudinally through it to reduce resistance and increasethe supporting-surface, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN B. WARD. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, FRANK A. BROOKS.

